We normally leave about 3 in the morning and drive all day arriving
at
Yecora late in the day. This time we left Phoenix 12:30 p.m. so we
could drive
down, cross the border and get down a ways to save some time and keep
the
drive to a manageable length for one day. We stopped in Nogales for
food
and gas and arrived at "Sonora Only" at 4:30 p.m., about 20 minutes for
paperwork.
Stopped along Santa Cruz River on Highway 15 between KM 223 and KM 222
from
5:00 until 5:20. At about KM 200, we dropped out of oak-riparian
habitat
into Sonoran Desert.

We made one stop to bird at KM 222 along the Santa Gruz River. Some
of
the birds here were Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Summer Tanager, Song
Sparrow,
Thick-billed Kingbird, Cassin's Kingbird, Bell's Vireo, and
Violet-crowned Hummingbird.

Arrived in Santa Ana about 6:00 p.m. It was 54 miles from "Sonora
Only" to Santa Ana. We stayed at Motel San Francisco, East Side of
Highway 15. [200
pesos, $25] Room wasn't to bad but it was close to the highway, the
road
noise was loud all night. "Nocturnal grackles" called all night too.
There
was a large flock of Cattle Egrets roosting near the hotel.

APRIL 27

We left Santa Ana at 5:30 a.m. and reached the toll booth outside of
Hermosillo
about 7:10 a.m., 93 miles from Santa Ana. We were at Hermosillo by 7:30
with
stops at the marsh and the large reservoir on the East Side of town.
Bought
gas at Hermosillo, left town at 7:55 a.m. Turned onto Highway 16 to
Yecora.
Part of the reason we left the day before was so that we could get to
Hermosillo
early in the day and make more stops along Hwy.16 to Yecora. Some of
the
markers noted below weren't stops but just notation or landmarks.

KM 45 La Colorada was our first Cardon Cactus.

KM 72 San Juan de Pima was 46 miles from Hermosillo and is a
small,
low elevation river or stream. We arrived at 8:45 a.m., there were lots
of
birds. Some of the birds seen were Great Kiskadee, Zone-tailed Hawk,
Gray
Hawk, Vaux Swift, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Brown-crested Flycatcher,
Ash-throated
Flycatcher, Nutting's Flycatcher, Canyon Towhee, and Rufous-winged
Sparrow.

KM 117 Not sure of town name. (San Pablo?) PEMEX gas station
is
the only one until Yecora. 73 miles from Hermosillo.

KM 168 is the Rio Yaqui; we arrived at 12:10 p.m., took some
photos
and birded from the bridge. (104 miles from Hermosillo)

KM 200 had the first pine trees and some oaks. It's worth a
short stop.

KM 214 was a bridge just before you come into Tecopa. If you
go
upstream you will come to some fig trees. We were here from 2:00 until
2:20.
We got our first Black-throated Magpie Jays and Elegant Quail here.

KM 215 was the second bridge at Tecopa. Park on the left
near the
bridge and walk downstream. This canyon is a unique microclimate with a
native
bamboo growing on the north facing slope and a lot of figs about
¾
to a mile down stream. This is the only place in Sonora where I've seen
the
bamboo growing. 133 miles from Hermosillo.

KM 234 The road to Ciudad Obregon is on right. Road on left
to San
Nicholis. We did not go there on this trip.

KM 260 is the famous "Barranca". We arrived about 3:30, and
stayed about an hour. We got Slate-throated Redstart, Rusty Sparrow,
and Spotted Wren right away.

KM 265 is a truck stop. On the right is a dirt road up to
Mesa Campanero.
Its not a very good road but it is passable with a high clearance
vehicle
(4 wheel drive not necessary). The road has a fork a short way up and
to
camp we took the left fork. It goes up to the top of the mesa where you
can
camp. While we were eating dinner we heard and found a Mountain Trogon.
This
area had at least four trogons while we were there. That night we heard
two
Whip-poor-wills calling.

APRIL 28

Spent early morning on the Mesa Campanero. This area was very birdy
and
I was surprised at how much time we spent here. Some of the birds seen
this
morning were Eastern Bluebird, Olive Warbler, Grace's Warbler, Mexican
Chickadee,
Crescent-chested Warbler, Slate-throated Redstart, Tufted Flycatcher.
We
also had good views of a Short-tailed Hawk near the microwave tower.

At 10:30 we went to the Barranca where we added Flame-colored
Tanager and
Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush. Went into Yecora for gas just after
noon.
We then stopped at a small canyon at KM 275. This area is another moist
canyon.
We added several more Tufted Flycatchers, Elegant Trogon and a
White-throated
Robin here. Later went down the road from the barranca where we got
great
looks at a pair of White-striped Woodcreepers. We spent another night
at
Mesa Campenero.

APRIL 29

Arrive at Barranca at 9:00 a.m. Birded here for a couple of hours
and then
we worked our way down to Santa Ana Road at KM 243. Drove out Santa Ana
Road
about 3 miles to some trees, not much out here but cows. We then headed
back
and crossed Highway 16 and drove out the road to Santa Rosa about 6
miles
to bridge at river, again nothing much but cows. This area is very good
for
thorn forest birds, many Nutting's Flycatchers and Thick-billed
Kingbirds.
Here I heard a Nutting's doing the seldom-heard "pit" call. Came back
to
Highway 16 about 1:45 p.m.

KM 234 we took the road to Ciudad Obrigon at 1:52 p.m.
Arrived at
Highway 15 at 4:30 p.m. 101 miles 2 hours and 22 min. We went to
Navojoa and
spent the night at Best Western. [$43] Birds that were new for the trip
or
the area were White-fronted Parrot, Green Kingfisher, Orchard Oriole,
Tropical
Kingbird, Sinaloa Crow, and Happy Wren.

APRIL 30

We left Navojoa at 6:00 a.m. and drove into Alamos. Take right fork
at
first square (narrow street) turn right at mission, then left at Camino
al
Mirador out El Fuerte Road. Go to left turn for Rio Cuchujaqui [road to
Huircova]
9 KM out to river and bridge. Spent day at Rio including a hike down
stream
from bridge for about a mile. Many birds here including Rufous-bellied
Chachalaca,
Yellow Grosbeak, Blue Mockingbird, Plain-capped Starthroat,
Rufous-backed
Robin, Rose-throated Becard and Bare-throated Tiger-Heron.

We went back to Alamos and then back towards Navajoa to a campground
at
Big Rig Park (or El Caracol). Spent night here. [80 pesos, $10] Some of
the
birds at camp were Buff-collared Nightjar, Lesser Nighthawk,
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl,
Thick-billed Kingbird, and Black-throated Magpie-Jay.

MAY 1

Arrive to Alamos, down El Fuerte Road, 6.2 miles from turn to Rio
Cuchujaqui to a wide wash with a shrine on the right. We parked on the
right and walked down the wash about 10 minutes to the river, then we
went downstream about 3 miles. Some people call this place the
Mentadero. This place is the best easily accessible area around Alamos.
We saw many great birds here some of
them were Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Plain-capped Starthroat,
Purplish-backed Jays, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Gray Hawk, Common
Black-Hawk, Crane Hawk,
Lilac-crowned Parrot, Rufous-bellied Chachalaca, Rose-throated Becard,
and
Squirrel Cuckoo. We ended the day back at Navajoa and the Rio Mayo
staying
the night at the Best Western.

MAY 2

We left Navojoa at 6:30 a.m. headed for home. We made stops at the
Rio Mayo, Rio Jaqui and at Guaymas. At Guaymas we stopped at the
causeway near Empalme some of the birds here were Heermann's Gull,
Laughing Gull, Franklin's Gull, Yellow-footed Gull, Gull-billed Tern,
Least Tern, Brant, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Reddish Egret,
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron and American
Oystercatcher. We made it to Hermosillo by 11:15 and "Sonora Only" at
the
border at 2:10 p.m., arrive in Phoenix at 5:30. We had a total 1400
miles
for the trip.

TRIP LIST

This is the complete list of birds from the above trip.

Eared Grebe - At least 3 birds seen at Guaymas causeway.
American White Pelican - Birds at Hermosillo reservoir.
Brown Pelican - Birds seen at Guaymas causeway.
Double-crested Cormorant - Flock of 6 birds flying west of Ciudad
Obregon and several seen at Guaymas.
Neotropic Cormorant - Bird seen at Hermosillo reservoir and at Guaymas
causeway.
Bare-throated Tiger-Heron - At least 6 birds seen along the Rio
Cuchujaqui.
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron - Common at Guaymas causeway.
Tricolored Heron - Common at Guaymas causeway.
Reddish Egret - At least 3 birds at Guaymas causeway.
Cattle Egret - Birds seen at several low elevation locations including
Santa
Ana and Rio Mayo at Navojoa.
Green Heron - Several birds seen along the Rio Cuchujaqui and at the
Rio
Mayo in Navojoa.
Black-crowned Night-Heron - Two birds seen at the Rio Mayo in Navojoa.
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Abundant at the Guaymas causeway.
White Ibis - Abundant at the Guaymas causeway.
White-faced Ibis - Flock of 15 birds flying over the Rio Mayo at
Navojoa.
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck - Common around the Rio Mayo at Navojoa.
Brant - Fifteen birds seen flying south at the Guaymas causeway.
Mallard - Two birds seen along the Rio Yaqui near Bacum.
Red-breasted Merganser - Several birds seen at the Guaymas causeway.
Black Vulture - Abundant in most habitats.
Turkey Vulture - Abundant in most habitats.
Sharp-shinned Hawk - One bird seen harassing Peregrine Falcon at the
Mesa
Campenero.
Crane Hawk - Two birds seen along the Rio Cuchujaqui.
Common Black-Hawk - Six birds seen along the Rio Cuchujaqui including a
nesting
pair with one immature bird.
Harris's Hawk - Two birds seen along hwy. 15 west of Navojoa.
Gray Hawk - Common in thorn forest and riparian habitats.
Short-tailed Hawk - One bird seen soaring above Mesa Campenero.
Swainson's Hawk - One bird seen along hwy. 16 east of Hermosillo.
Zone-tailed Hawk - One bird seen along at hwy. 16 km 70 at San Juan de
Pima
and 2 birds seen soaring at Mesa Campenero.
Red-tailed Hawk
Crested Caracara - Abundant in lower elevation habitats.
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon - One bird seen at Mesa Campenero.
Rufous-bellied Chachalaca - Two pairs of birds seen well along the Rio
Cuchujaqui.
Gambel's Quail - Birds seen along hwy.16 east of Hermosillo.
Elegant Quail - Abundant in thorn forest. Many birds doing territorial
calls.
Common Moorhen - Two birds seen along Rio Mayo at Navojoa.
American Coot - Two birds seen along Rio Mayo at Navojoa.
Wilson's Plover - One bird seen at Guaymas causeway.
Killdeer
American Oystercatcher - Three birds seen at Guaymas causeway.
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet - Two birds seen at Hermosillo reservoir.
Willet - Several birds at Guaymas causeway.
Spotted Sandpiper - Common bird along lower elevation riparian
habitats.
Long-billed Curlew - Four birds seen at Guaymas causeway.
Marbled Godwit - Common at Guaymas causeway.
Sanderling - One bird seen at Guaymas causeway.
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Laughing Gull - Several birds seen at Guaymas causeway.
Franklin's Gull - One bird seen at Guaymas causeway.
Heermann's Gull - Several birds at Guaymas causeway.
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Yellow-footed Gull - Several birds seen at Guaymas causeway.
Gull-billed Tern - Two birds seen at Guaymas causeway.
Caspian Tern
Forster's Tern - Four birds seen at Guaymas causeway.
Least Tern - Abundant at Guaymas causeway.
Rock Dove
Red-billed Pigeon - Four birds seen around Alamos 2 flying over thorn
forest
and 2 perched birds along Rio Cuchujaqui.
Band-tailed Pigeon - Four birds seen flying at Mesa Campenero.
White-winged Dove
Mourning Dove
Inca Dove
Common Ground-Dove - Abundant in lower elevation habitats, very
abundant around
Alamos.
Ruddy Ground-Dove - One bird heard calling along Rio Cuchujaqui.
White-tipped Dove - Abundant in thorn forest, most birds only heard but
several
seen.
White-fronted Parrot - Common roosting bird at Navojoa along Rio Mayo
also
seen along Rio Yaqui at Bacum. Several birds
seen flying around Alamos.
Lilac-crowned Parrot - Three birds seen well along Rio Cuchujaqui.
Squirrel Cuckoo - One bird seen along Rio Cuchujaqui.
Greater Roadrunner
Great Horned Owl - One bird seen along Rio Cuchujaqui.
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl - Several birds heard along Rio Cuchujaqui.
Lesser Nighthawk - One bird heard calling at El Carocal rest stop.
Buff-collared Nightjar - Two birds heard calling at El Carocal rest
stop.
Whip-poor-will - Multiple birds heard calling at Mesa Campenero and one
bird
heard calling during the day at the barranca.
Vaux's Swift - Six or 7 birds seen along hwy. 16 km 70 at San Juan de
Pimas.
White-throated Swift - Several birds seen at the barranca.
Broad-billed Hummingbird - Common in all but the lowest of elevation
habitats.
White-eared Hummingbird - Common in mountains around Yecora.
Violet-crowned Hummingbird - Common in thorn forest and lower riparian
habitats.
Blue-throated Hummingbird - One bird seen at barranca.
Magnificent Hummingbird - Three or 4 birds seen on Mesa Campenero.
Plain-capped Starthroat - Abundant along Rio Cuchujaqui. Birds seen
hawking
insects above water.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird - Several birds heard on Mesa Campenero.
Elegant Trogon - Birds heard at barranca and hwy. 16 km 275. Common
along
Rio Cuchujaqui.
Mountain Trogon - Several birds heard and seen at the barranca and on
the
Mesa Campenero.
Green Kingfisher - Several birds seen riparian habitats.
Acorn Woodpecker - Common in mountains around Yecora.
Gila Woodpecker
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Strickland's Woodpecker - Two or 3 birds seen at the barranca.
Northern Flicker
Gilded Flicker
White-striped Woodcreeper - Commonly heard in canyons around Yecora saw
a
pair of birds well.
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet - Several birds seen and heard around
Alamos.
Olive-sided Flycatcher - One bird seen on Mesa Campenero.
Tufted Flycatcher - At least 10 birds seen in the mountains around
Yecora.
Greater Pewee - Common in mountains around Yecora.
Western Wood-Pewee - Three or 4 birds seen on Mesa Campenero.
Dusky Flycatcher
Cordilleran Flycatcher
Black Phoebe
Vermilion Flycatcher
Dusky-capped Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Nutting's Flycatcher - Many birds heard and seen at lower elevations.
Brown-crested Flycatcher - Many birds seen and heard primarily along
riparian
habitats.
Great Kiskadee - Three birds heard at hwy. 16 km 70 and a couple more
along
the Rio Mayo at Navojoa.
Social Flycatcher - Several birds seen along Rio Cuchujaqui, Rio Mayo
at
Navojoa and Rio Yaqui at Bacum.
Tropical Kingbird - Several birds seen and heard at Rio Cuchujaqui, Rio
Mayo
at Navojoa and Rio Yaqui at Bacum.
Cassin's Kingbird
Thick-billed Kingbird - Abundant at lower elevation habitats.
Western Kingbird
Rose-throated Becard - Common along Rio Cuchujaqui.
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-throated Magpie-Jay - Common in thorn forest habitat.
Steller's Jay
Purplish-backed Jay - Eight birds seen along Rio Cuchujaqui.
Mexican Jay
Sinaloa Crow - Very abundant around Alamos, Navojoa, and Ciudad
Obregon.
Chihuahuan Raven
Common Raven
Mexican Chickadee - Two or 3 birds seen on Mesa Campenero.
Bridled Titmouse
Verdin
Bushtit
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Cactus Wren
Spotted Wren - Nesting pair of birds at barranca.
Canyon Wren
Sinaloa Wren - Seen or heard in most mid to lower elevation riparian
habitats.
Happy Wren - Several birds seen along Rio Cuchujaqui.
Bewick's Wren
House Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Black-capped Gnatcatcher - Only one male bird seen along Rio Cuchujaqui
a
couple others heard in thorn forest.
Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush - One bird heard and seen at barranca.
Eastern Bluebird - Common in mountains around Yecora.
Townsend's Solitaire - Two birds seen on Mesa Campenero.
Brown-backed Solitaire - Three or 4 birds seen and heard on Mesa
Campenero.
Hermit Thrush
White-throated Robin - One bird seen in canyon along hwy. 16 at km 275.
Rufous-backed Robin - Several birds seen along Rio Cuchujaqui.
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
Blue Mockingbird - Several birds seen and heard along Rio Cuchujaqui
and
at barranca.
Curve-billed Thrasher
Phainopepla
Loggerhead Shrike
European Starling
Bell's Vireo
Cassin's Vireo
Plumbeous Vireo
Hutton's Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Orange-crowned Warbler
Crescent-chested Warbler - Seven or 8 birds seen and heard in the
mountains around Yecora.
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Townsend's Warbler
Hermit Warbler
Grace's Warbler
MacGillivray's Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Painted Redstart
Slate-throated Redstart - Seven or 8 birds seen in the mountains around
Yecora.
Rufous-capped Warbler - Only 2 birds seen at KM 196
Yellow-breasted Chat
Olive Warbler - Fairly common on Mesa Campenero.
Hepatic Tanager
Summer Tanager
Western Tanager
Flame-colored Tanager - Male and female seen at the barranca.
Northern Cardinal
Pyrrhuloxia
Yellow Grosbeak - Common bird around Alamos and thorn forest, most were
males.
Black-headed Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Varied Bunting - Abundant around Alamos.
Green-tailed Towhee
Spotted Towhee
Canyon Towhee
Rufous-winged Sparrow - Several birds heard and 1 seen along hwy.16 at
km70.
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Rusty Sparrow - Two or 3 birds seen at the barranca.
Chipping Sparrow
Brewer's Sparrow - Two birds seen at the Rio Cuchujaqui.
Lark Sparrow
Five-striped Sparrow - One bird seen at Navojoa.
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow - One bird seen along Rio Cuchujaqui.
Yellow-eyed Junco - Several seen and heard in mountains around Yecora.
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Great-tailed Grackle
Bronzed Cowbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole - Three males and 2 females along Rio Mayo at Navojoa.
Hooded Oriole
Streak-backed Oriole - Most common oriole. Seen in mid to lower
elevation habitats.
Bullock's Oriole
Scott's Oriole
House Finch
Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch
House Sparrow